Kite parachute



May 17, 1960 c. R. ENTERKIN KITE PARACHUTE Filed June s. 1958 Charles R. Enter/(in INVENTOR.

uu'fiowy 5m Uflitd States Patent KITE PARACHUTE Charles R. Enterkin, Douglasville, Ga., assignor of thirtythree and one-third percent to Otis L. Davis, Douglasville, Ga.

Application June 5, 1958, SeriaiNo. 740,152

3 Claims. (Cl. 46-86) 'Ihe'present invention generally relates to an amusement device in the form of an aerial toy for use in combination with a kite string with the aerial toy being in the form of a kite which is caused to move longitudinally upwardly on the kite string by wind forces after which the parachute may be released from the kite string by moving the kite string in a particular manner so that the parachute will fall freely downwardly to the ground.

An object of the present invention is to provide a kite parachute incorporating a movable annular washer-like member on a kite string together with a parachute with a figurine suspended therefrom and a clip at the upper end of the parachute for resilient detachable engagement with the opening in the annular member for movement therewith normally and for disengagement therefrom by rapid lateral movement of the kite string whereby the mass of the parachute will disengage the resilient connection between the clip and the annular member.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a kite parachute incorporating a stop member on the kite string together with a novel detachable connection between a movable member on the kite string and the parachute so that the connection may be rendered ineffective in response to rapid lateral movement of the kite String after the parachute has reached the maximum elevation permitted by the stop means on the kite string.

A further object of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, ease of operation, adaptation for purposes of amusement and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the parachute of the present invention mounted on a kite string;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the parachute after the same has been released from the kite string;

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the stop member mounted on the kite string;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view of the slidable annular member and the connection between the parachute and the annular member;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the clip for detachably securing the annular member and the parachute together; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of the shroud ring of the parachute illustrating the construction thereof.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the kite parachute of the present invention which is associated with a kite string her 16 in the form of a circular plate having an enlarged central opening 18 with a tie string 20 being provided for securing the plate 16 on the kite string 12 by virtue of the tie string 20 encircling the string 12 on either side of the plate 16 and extending over one edge of the circular plate 16 as clearly shown in Figure 3.

Slidably disposed on the kite string 12 is an annular member 22 similar to the plate 16 which is generally in the shape of a washer having an enlarged central opening 24 for freely receiving the kite string 12 so that the annular member 22 may slide longitudinally thereon until such time as the annular member 22 comes into en- 12 having a kite 14 on one end thereof with the kite gagement with the stop plate 16.

The parachute 10 includes an upper portion or canopy 26 of fabric material or other suitable flexible material having a plurality of'shroud lines 28 connected at spaced points to the periphery thereof and extending downward lyinconverging relation with the lower endof the shroud lines 28 being connected to an annular plate 30, and extending through apertures 32 in the plate 30 for connection therewith. Suspended from the plate 36 is a figurine 34 simulating a parachutist with the figurine 34 being supported from the shroud plate 30 by a pair of flexible lines 36 which extend through the apertures 38 in the plate 30 and are secured to the plate 30 so that when the parachute 10 is disengaged from the kite line 12, the parachute will float freely down with the figure 34 actually simulating the action of a parachutist.

Means is provided for resiliently and detachably connecting the top portion 26 to the annular member 22 and this means includes a clip generally designated by the numeral 40 and including a partial circular portion 42 forming the major part of a circle with the free ends thereof each being provided with a leg 44 with the leg 44 extending in diverging relation with the partial circular portion 42 providnig a resiliency for the legs 44 so that the same may be squeezed together and inserted through the opening 24 whereby the construction of the legs 44 will cam the legs 44 inwardly so that the inner ends of the legs 44 will be engaged with the edge defining the opening 24. This resilient connection between the clip 40 and the annular member 22 may be rendered ineffective or may be detached by a sudden jerk in a lateral direction on the kite line 12. In other words, the kite line 12 may be jerked upwardly rapidly and the mass and inertia of the clip and the parachute will effect disengagement of the spring clip 40 from the annular member 22 since the legs 44 will be cammed inwardly towards each other until the free ends thereof slide downwardly out of the opening 24. The clip or hook may be constructed of wire and the plate 16 and the annular member 22 may be constructed of suitable material such as plastic. In operation, the miniature parachute is attached to the kite string or cord and climbs the cord until it is stopped by the stop ring which is tied into the cord approximately six feet from the kite 14. The parachute is folded when it is placed on the kite string and remains folded until it is released. When the folded parachute has ascended the kite string to the point where it is stopped by the stop ring'16, it is then released by slacking the kite string or line and giving a quick jerk thereon. When the parachute is released from the annular or member 22, the ring or member 22 will slide back down the kite string to the hands of the operator of the kite so that another parachute can be attached to it and the operation repeated. The construction in which the parachute climbs the kite string or cord while mounted on a ring or annular member avoids knots or frayed places in the cord since the annular member 22 will climb right over small knots and frayed places and does not hang upon them. Also, this construction prevents accidental disengagement of the 3 support means from the string prior to its-obtaining the desired height, and in fact, the present device may whirl completely around the kite string and still continue to climb without any adverse effect upon the operation of thedevice.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and de: scribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a kite parachute, an annular member slidable upwardly in vertical position on a kite string, a flexible canopy, a figurine suspended from said canopy, and an upwardly opening clip fixed on top of said canopy and having a pair of legs extended upwardly through said;

annular member in upwardly diverging relation to inter-1 lock with said annular member and suspend said canopy from said annular member, said'legs being resilient for camming toward each other by sliding movement of 4 said annular member upwardly along said legs in opposition to, the weight of the canopy and figurine, whereby said legs will slip out of said annular member under the weight of the canopy and figurine on said clip to release said canopy, said annular member being movable .upwardly along said legs by jerking said kite line upwardly.

2. The combination of claim 1, said clip comprising a partially circular resilient portion resiliently connecting said legs together in divergent relation and fixed on top of said canopy.

3 The combination of claim 1, said legs extending through said annular member at an angle to' thei'plane of said member to facilitate upward movement of the annular member along said legs.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

